Amusement machine



`Patented `ian. 28, 194.1`

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

rlhis invention relates generally to amusement devices, and particularly to an amusement machine of the Ferris wheel type.

The main object of this invention is the construction of an improved form of amusement machine in which the passengers are moved in a circular orbit in a vertical plane and can be made to revolve within this plane.

I accomplish this and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section taken through a car taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is ya perspective view of the clutch collar.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the drive gear.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a pair of standards IU and I I within which journal the horizontal shaft I2. On the shaft I2 is keyed the hub I3 from which project the radial arms It.

Between the hub I3 and the bearing I5 of the standard I3 is disposed the hub I3 of the bevel gear Il. The gear I'I is provided with the diametrically opposite openings I3 which are close to the hub I6. The hub I6 is also provided with the splines I9. The opening 20 in the hub I6 is adapted to rotatably receive the shaft I2.

Slidably mounted on the hub I3 is a clutch collar 2l which is provided with the spline ways 22 adapted to receive the splines I9. Projecting from the side 23 of the clutch collar 2l are the jaws 24 which jaws extend through the openings I8. On the side 25 of the collar 2I are formed the short jaws 26 which are adapted to engage d the slots 2l in the bearing I5 when the collar 2| is moved suiiiciently in that direction.

The hub I3 is provided with slots 28 into which the jaws 24 can extend when the collar 2I is sufficiently moved in that direction. A forked bell crank lever 23 is pivotally mounted on the standard I0 and is operated through the connecting rod 33 from the hand lever 3I. On the hub I3 is secured a sprocket wheel 32 which is driven through a chain 33 from the sprocket pinion 34 of the motor 35 which is mounted on the bracket 36 disposed at the upper end of the standard II.

At the outer end of each arm I4 is disposed a transverse shaft 31 on each end of which is secured a car 38. Secured to the shaft 3l is a bevel gear 39 which meshes with a pinion 43 on the shaft 4I and on whose opposite end is secured the pinion 42 which meshes with the bevel gear Il.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming that passengers 43 occupy the cars 38 and that it is desired to give them a ride in the machine, the operator by manipulating the controller 44 of the motor 35 causes the motor 35 to operate and to revolve the arms I4 about the axis of the shaft I2, then by moving the lever 3l to the neutral position, shown in Fig. 1, for example, the cars 38 merely travel around in their orbits after the fashion of a Ferris wheel, that is, right side up.

If, however, the lever 3l is moved to cause the jaws 24 to engage the slots 28, it follows that the gear Il will be locked with the hub I3 and the cars 33 will not be able to revolve about the axisv of their respective shaft 3l but will revolve about the axis of the shaft I2.

If, on the other hand, the lever 3l is moved until the jaws 23 engage the slots 2l, then the gear I'I is locked against any movement so that as the arms I4 revolve and the pinions 42 travel around the gear Il, rotation is imparted to the shafts 4I and the cars 38 are made to revolve about the axes of the shafts 3l in the same direction as they do about the axis of the shaft I2.

It must be understood that it would easily be possible to vary the ratio of the .gear I1 and pinions 42 or to interpose gearing for the purpose of making the cars 38 revolve in opposite directions Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Attention is drawn to my United States Patents Nos. 1,987,004 and 2,046,678 over which this machine is an improvement.

I claim:

1. An amusement machine having an upright standard, a horizontal shaft journaled in said standard, a pair of radial arms attached to said shaft, means for revolving said shaft, a gear mounted on -said shaft, means for securing said gear to said shaft, means for holding said shaft against rotation with relation to said standard, a car revolvably mounted on the outer end of each arm, and means for drivably connecting said gear to said car whereby said car may be permitted to swing from the end of its respective arm or to be revolved thereon or to be held in xed relation thereto.

2. An amusement machine consisting of a pair of upright standards having a horizontal shaft journaled across the upper ends thereof, means for rotating said shaft, a pair of radial arms secured on said shaft, each of said arms having a oar revolvably mounted on the outer end thereof on an axis normal to the plane of rotation of said arm, a gear associated with said shaft, a clutch mechanism for selectively locking said gear to said shaft or against rotation and driving connections between said gear and said cars.

3. Ina machine of the class described the combination of a horizontal shaft, a pair of radial arms secured on said shaft, a gear revolvable on said shaft, a clutch collar slidable on the hub of said gear and having jaws on opposite sides thereof, one of said sets of jaws extending through said gear, said arms having a plurality of slots formed around the hub thereof adapted to receive said jaws, a second set of jaws on said slidable collar adapted to engage corresponding notches in a stationary member, a car revolvably mounted on the outer end of each arm and gearing interposed between said rst mentioned gear and said ear adapted to revolve same in the plane of rotation of said arms. 

